Vacuum-cleaning apparatus



June 12, 1923.

J. P. MALONE VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS.

- bined dry and wetseparating tank.

Patented June 12, 1923.

JAMES P. MALONE, OFPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

VACUUM-CLEANING APPARATUS.

Application tiled January 25, 1922. Serial No. 531,610.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a cleaning apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view through a part of the apparatus illustratedin Figure 1 showing the separating hood in deflated condition, and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale.

The present invention relates broadly to cleaning apparatus, and moreparticularly to vacuum cleaning apparatus having a com- It hasherctoiore been attempted rugs, carpets and the like by the use of acleaning fluid and a vacuum cleaning apparatus for removing the fluid.Not only has considerable difficulty been experienced in making asuitable apparatus for taking care of the dirt and water. but the waterhas attacked the glue sizing and caused the nap to pack down. This isvery objectionable, and has prevented the extensive use of such methods.By the present invention. however, these objcctionsare entirelyovercome. as I have invented an apparatus for handling the dirt andwater extracted.

It will be understood that thencconlpanying drawings constituting partof this spcci fication are for purposes of illustration only, and thatchanges may be made in the details of construction and the operation oithe parts without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scopeof nii broader claims.

In the drawings, there is illustrated a vacuum cleaning apparatuscomprising a base 2 carried by castors 3 enabling it to be easily movedfrom place 'to place as required. Extending upwardly from the base :2are a series of vertical supports lsecurcd at their upper ends in anydesired inannerto a ring .5. Detach-ably supported within the ring 5,and resting therein entirely by gravity, is a combined dry and wetseparator tank This tank is preferably constructed with its to cleandownwardly sloping sides.

walls converging downwardly to a central outlet which may beclosed byaremovable closure 7 of any desired construction to per- Init cleaningof the tank. Adj aceht the closure 7 may be provided a drain 8 providinga supplemental outlet therefor which may be used at predeterminedintervals.

Extending tangentially into the tank 6 intermediate the ends thereof,but preferably adjacent the upper portion is an inlet.

9. By reason of the tangential disposition of this inlet it will beapparent that the enterlng stream is given a whirling motion within theseparating tank 6, thereby oaus ing the solid particles to cling to theconverging walls, but'permitting the air and lighter particles toseparate there-from and pass upwardly from the tank. The outlet from thetank comprises a substantially centrally positioned opening 10 formed ina bafile plate 11 preferably having all of its walls tapered downwardly.Located above the opening 10 is a second baffle 12 having This battle isadapted to deflectinto the tank 6 any heavier particles carriedtherefrom by th rising air currents.

Supported above the tank 6 is a casing 13 having an outlet 14: connectedin any desired manner, as by a flexible hose 15 with a disintecting tank'16. This disinfecting tank is also preferably mounted in such mannerthat it can be easily moved from place to place. and is formedywith asubmerged jet 17 adapted to discharge below a screen 18 whereby airbubbles are, effectualiy broken up during their travel through thedisinfecting and filtering fluid 19. The outlet 20 from the tank 16 maylead in any desired manner to a motor or other mechanism for producingthe desired air currents through the apparatus.

Positioned within the casing 1.3 is aflexible hood 21, formed of andesired material. and

having its lower edge dctachably secured 'in thence through the outlet10 into the tank 6. When the vacuum is again established the hood willhe'inflated, causing the weighted upper end to move upwardly. Movementin this direction will be limited by a. stop plate 26, forming a battle.and supported in any desired manner so as to form a tortuous path forthe air attempting to pass from the casing 13 to the outlet 14 throughthe open ing 27. When the hood engages the plate 'ZtSit. will haveimparted thereto another ar which assists in the cleaning of the hood.

If desired, the casing 13 may he formed with straps 28 adapted tocooperate with staples 29 by means of which the parts of the apparatusmay he locked in position.

In operation, when the cleaning nozzle which is secured in any desiredmanner to the inlet 9 is placed in engagement with the rug or carpetbeing cleaned, the a1r flow through the hood 21 will be slightlyrestricted and this will result in a deflation of the hood. Each timethe nozzle. is lifted the hood will be fully inflated. it will beapparent, therefore, that l have provided means for autonmticallycleaning the flexible hood during the operation oi the apparatus. Ifdesired, the hood may be cleaned by manually cutting oil the flow or.air therethrough in any desired manner.

in cleaning. 1 first preferably subject the rug or carpet to the actionof the apparatus in the usual way to remove all loose dirt therefrom. Ithen apply.v preferably, by means of a'largc scrubbing brush bf suitableconstruction, a limited amount of a cleansing fluid to a limited area orthe rug or carpet, and scrub the same vigorously to loosen all greaseand dirt which has become packed into the nap thereof. Immediately afterthis operation, and before the cleansing fluid has had an opportunity toattack the glue sizing, I withdraw all of this fluid to gather with theforeign material loosened thereby by subjecting said area to the actionof the vacuum cleaning nozzle. This operation is then repeated until theentire surface has been cleaned. I have found this method to be mosteffective when operating on successive strips, each having awidthsubstantially equal to the length of the brush by which the cleansingfluid is applied and to the length of the nozzle by which the suction isapplied. For example, successive strips of approximately 12" may beeasily and quickly cleaned and the cleansing fluid removed before it hashad an opportunity to soften the glue sizing.

By reason of the fact that the inlet 9 is tangentially arranged, Wateris prevented from passing upwardly into the hood 2i, and I have foundthat'the arrangement of hatlles cooperates with the separating tankinsuch manner that either when using it as a dry separator or a wetseparator a central column of dry rising air is formed. 1

have found it to be highly essential in an apparatus of this characterto provide some means for preventing the dirt from becom ing caked onthe hood 21, as will be the case with such a construction as illustratedin the German. Patent No. 272384 if it were attempted to'usc such aconstruction with a cleansing fluid. sary to provide some means forlimiting the extending movement of the hood during inflation asotherwise it rapidly becomes torn or broken.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of anapparatus by means of which both a dry and a wet cleaning operation maybe effectively produced for insuring the removal of all foreign materialfrom a rug, carpet, or the like.

I claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a separating tank having a tangentialinlet whereby entering air is given a whirling Furthermore, it isnecesmotion and a centrally located restricted outlet for said air, abattle cooperating with said outlet, a flexible hood receiving the air'from said outlet, means for causing said hood to deflate and inflate,and means independent of the hood structure for limiting movement of thefree end thereof upon deflation and inflation and thereby impart ing acleaning jar to said hood both during deflation and inflation.

2. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a separating tank having downwardlysloping converging walls and a tangentially extending inlet, adownwardly sloping deflector cooperating with the upper end of said tankand provided with a centrally located restricted outlet, a baflle forsaid outlet, a hood for receiving the flow through said. outlet, andmeans independent of the hood structure for limiting movement of thefree end thereof upon deflation and inflation and thereby imparting acleaning jar to said hood both during deflation and inflation,substantially as described.

. 3. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a separating tank having downwardlysloping converging walls and a tangentially 83-- tending inlet,adownwardly sloping deflector cooperating with the upper end of saidtank and rovided with a centrally 10- cated restricted outlet, a battlefor said outlet, a flexible hood cooperating with said outlet, said hoodhaving a weighted upper end, means cooperating with said Weighted upperend for limiting the upward movement of said hood during inflation,and'a restraining member secured to said hood for limiting the downwardmovement thereof during deflation, both of said means being adapted toimpart jars to said hood for cleaning the same, substantially asdescribed,

4. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a separatin tank, means for producinga vacuum t erein, means for delivering dirt laden air thereto, aflexible hood intermediate said means adapted to be deflated andinflated, and means independent of the hood structure for limitingmovement of the free endthereof upon deflation and inflation and therebyimparting a cleaning jar to said hood both during deflation andinflation.

5. In a vacuum cleaning apparatus, a separating tank, means forproducing a mediate said means adapted to be deflated v and inflated,and means for automatically imparting a jar thereto both upon inflationand deflation movements thereof, said hood having a weighted upper endfor increasing the jar imparted thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES P. MALONE.

